| Organic gardening can be a great way to enjoy | | | | buried in a fallow section of the garden. |
| the outdoors and grow beautiful flowers, | | | | Like crustacean shells, fish scales, bones |
| fruits and vegetables. An important step in | | | | and skin release nutrients slowly, providing |
| organic gardening is soil preparation. | | | | plants with a natural, steady dispersion. |
| Experienced gardeners know that nothing beats | | | | |
| rich, organic soil for growing a lush and | | | | Seaweed is another excellent additive. |
| productive garden. Although organic gardeners | | | | Seaweed needs to be rinsed or set out in an |
| may choose to skip chemical fertilizers, most | | | | open area until rainfall removes the excess |
| experienced gardening enthusiasts know that | | | | salt. Once the seaweed has been desalinated, |
| there are excellent organic solutions to make | | | | it can be used as mulch, added to a compost |
| your vegetables thrive. | | | | pile or worked into the soil. East Coast and |
| | | | Gulf Coast gardeners can find many types of |
| Among the most beneficial additives to an | | | | seaweed that gets washed onto beaches while |
| organic garden are items from the ocean and | | | | West Coast residents have several types of |
| its tributaries. These include leftover | | | | very large kelps available. Check with local |
| portions of crabs, fish, lobsters, shrimp, | | | | regulations before harvesting these plants. |
| and even seaweed. These valuable sources of | | | | |
| nutrients and minerals can be collected in a | | | | Even sea shells can find uses in an organic |
| number of ways. | | | | garden. They also release trace amounts of |
| | | | limestone and other minerals and make useful |
| Crustaceans are a favorite source of minerals | | | | tools such in decorative borders or to anchor |
| for organic gardening. Lobsters, crabs and | | | | mulch in place. |
| shrimp all have hard shells which contain | | | | |
| limestone, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, | | | | Almost all flowers and vegetables will |
| magnesium and other important minerals. | | | | respond to organic additives. Flowers such as |
| Buying fresh seafood is a great way to obtain | | | | marigolds, sunflowers, zinnias and others |
| these wonderful shells. Using crustacean | | | | will thrive when grown in soil that has been |
| shells is very easy. After preparing a meal, | | | | fortified with fish or shellfish. |
| the shells and other scraps are simply put in | | | | |
| the compost pile or dried in the sun. The | | | | Vegetable gardeners will find that nutrient |
| dried shells and other parts provide an | | | | hungry plants such as tomatoes, peppers, |
| excellent source of minerals which are | | | | corn, peas, beans melons, and squash will |
| dispersed over a period of months, helping to | | | | also show a big difference when given these |
| prevent runoff problems and lowering the need | | | | important additives. |
| to re-apply nutrients during the season. | | | | |
| | | | Fruit growers will also find uses for seafood |
| Fish scraps are another excellent | | | | scraps as they can be composted and added |
| contribution to your organic garden. Fish | | | | around bushes or vine crops such as |
| have been used to nourish crops for thousands | | | | raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and |
| of years as they are excellent sources of | | | | grapes. |
| nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and other | | | | |
| important minerals. Fish heads, scales, skin | | | | Fruit trees such as apples, peaches, pears, |
| and bones all make great additions to a | | | | and others will also benefit from organic |
| garden. Fish parts can be laid in a sunny | | | | composts which contain these natural |
| area to dry, then added to a compost pile or | | | | nutrients and minerals. |